31478 Industrial Road Suite 200, Livonia, Michigan 48150 sales@xfer.com

XFER Blog

  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Blog
  4. Tags
  5. Technology

XFER Blog

XFER has been serving the Livonia area since 1994, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.
Categories
Tags
Suggested keywords
x

Technology

Subscribe to this list via RSS
Mike

3 Hidden Fax Machine Expenses That Really Add Up

b2ap3_thumbnail_fax_server_400.jpg
Do you have a functioning fax machine in your office? The technology is outdated; yet, there it sits, churning out faxes. Before you keep your fax machine around for another decade, you may want to first consider how it’s chipping away at your company’s operating budget.

Tags:
Technology Fax Server IT Solutions
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

The Newest Smartphones From Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft

b2ap3_thumbnail_smartphones_on_market_400.jpg
Smartphones are firmly established as a staple of modern society. In fact, sales of smartphones grew a whopping 23 percent during the previous year. It’s the nature of mobile devices for consumers to look forward to the latest models. To that end, here’s our preview of this year’s top three smartphones.

Tags:
Technology Smartphones Retail
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Colonel Sanders Might Be a Technology Genius Thanks to KFC’s Bucket/Printer [VIDEO]

b2ap3_thumbnail_kfc_bucket_tech_400.jpg
Human ingenuity never ceases to amaze us. This whole information technology revolution has pushed access to information to levels that any person that lived before the advent of the computer could never have imagined. What’s more, the establishment of the Internet of Things has made it so humans even have remote access to the goods they own. So when we first saw the technological marvel that KFC had in store for the Canadian chicken consumers, we weren’t so shocked as excited that we’ve reached the next step in humanity’s trek into the future.

Tags:
Technology Miscellaneous Retail
1 Comment
Continue reading
Mike

Your IT Department Can Be Your Ace in the Hole

b2ap3_thumbnail_allies_for_your_it_400.jpg
If your IT isn’t fully integrated in the day-to-day operations of your company, it can be holding your team back from achieving maximum productivity and efficiency. Granted, you have to have a dedicated IT department before they can be even remotely involved with your business. Some small and medium-sized businesses consider themselves savvy enough to get by without dedicated IT support, but they’re sadly mistaken.

Tags:
Technology IT Services IT Support
1 Comment
Continue reading
Mike

A Dark Shadow is Cast Over the Good Work Robots Do

b2ap3_thumbnail_manufacturing_robot_mistakes_400.jpg
The point of living in a world where technology takes over everything is that it’s supposed to make life easier. Although, keep in mind that imperfect humans are responsible for creating these technologies. Therefore, technology is flawed, maybe even to the point of putting people in harm’s way. This fundamental truth makes for an uneasy trust between man and machine.

Tags:
Technology Automation Robot
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Is Legacy Technology Preventing Your Business from Growing?

b2ap3_thumbnail_frustrating_legacy_tech_400.jpg
Can you remember the last time you did your company a solid and updated all of its hardware and software solutions? If your organization is still using machines from several years ago, it could be holding it back from reaching its full potential. We’ll say it again, think hard about when you last updated your technology, and we really, really hope that you aren’t still running Windows XP or machines from last century.

Tags:
Technology Upgrade Business
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

4 Game-Changing Virtual Reality Technologies

b2ap3_thumbnail_vr_ready_to_take_off_400.jpg
Entertainment has become such a huge part of technology consumption that nobody can think of a smartphone or the Internet without immediately thinking about it. In fact, entertainment has grown so important that some are trying to create machines that integrate virtual realities into the lives of everyday consumers. What is virtual reality, and is it limited to the entertainment industry; or can it be used in the business sector, as well?

Tags:
Technology Innovation Virtual Reality
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

3D Scanners Give Scientist a Glimpse of the Real Jurassic World

b2ap3_thumbnail_fossils_scanning_400.jpg
Who remembers seeing Jurassic Park in theaters in 1993? By now, the dinosaur flick is ancient history, but with Jurassic World hitting theaters today, you might have huge lizards on the brain. What does this have to do with technology? Well, researchers in Kenya are using 3D scanning and printing to preserve fossils, so the real ones can be safely removed from hazardous weather conditions in the Turkana Basin.

Tags:
Technology Miscellaneous Science
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Star Wars Has Shaped Our Technology More Than You Know

b2ap3_thumbnail_rd_d2_droid_400.jpg
It’s been a full 38 years since we were introduced to the Skywalker family in the first Star Wars film, “A New Hope.” The science fiction franchise has become such a cultural phenomenon that it even has its own holiday, celebrated galaxy-wide every May 4th (May the 4th be with you).

Tags:
Technology Miscellaneous Holiday
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Tip of the Week: 3 Options to Consider Before Trashing Your Old Technology

b2ap3_thumbnail_is_your_current_it_still_ok_400.jpg
It’s often the case that people excitedly upgrade to new technology without giving much thought about what to do with their old tech. In an upgrade situation like this, you’ve got a few options for dealing with your old technology that are good for the environment, socially responsible, and may even provide you with some cash.

Tags:
Technology Upgrade Tip of the Week
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

3 Telltale Signs That Your Hard Drive is Failing

b2ap3_thumbnail_hard_drive_failing_400.jpg
Technology is vital to the success of any business, but even the most common issue can prevent users from accomplishing their day-to-day goals. Even technology that’s known to be reliable can fail at any given time. This is especially true for the notorious hard disk drive, which is required for the average workstation to function properly. In order to get the most out of your technology, and to avoid data loss, look for signs of hardware failure before the deed is done.

Tags:
Miscellaneous Computers Entertainment Technology Computer
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Have a Sweet Drone? Think Twice Before Taking to the Skies

b2ap3_thumbnail_drone_regulations_400.jpg
There have been times in the past where technology advanced far faster than the legislation used to govern that technology. A modern example of this is the recent aerial drone controversy. People have no clue what can and can’t be done with them, and it’s generally because the technology came before any laws were passed concerning how they should be governed.

Tags:
Miscellaneous Technology Remote Computing
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

6 Common Pitfalls Prevented by Modern Managed Services

b2ap3_thumbnail_solutions_for_business_400.jpg
Your data is the foundation which your business is built upon. It only makes sense that someone should be overseeing it. If the wrong person were to handle your company’s IT, it could have disastrous consequences. Resolving common IT problems can allow your business to operate at a much greater velocity, putting an end to time-consuming and costly annoyances. Here are six common issues that managed IT services can prevent.

Tags:
Saving Money Technology IT Services
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

The Gift of Maggie

b2ap3_thumbnail_a_gift_for_maggie_400.jpg
An updated technology-based version of the classic Christmas story “The Gift of the Magi.” Originally published in The New York Sunday World in 1905. Written by O. Henry.

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That’s what the balance read on Maggie’s online bank statement. It’s never been that low before. Usually she and her husband Dillon have a comfortable amount that they can pull from, but this year has been especially hard for the young couple, thanks to their new business endeavor.

The couple took out a big loan and started a new hair salon nine months ago. They knew the risks of starting a business in this economy, but the risks seemed small compared to the excitement of following their dreams.

Tags:
Holiday Technology Small Business
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Is It Possible to Defy the Laws of Email and Unsend Your Message?

b2ap3_thumbnail_pluto_mail_400.jpg
There are some things in this world we can’t take back, and one of those things is what you say in an email. Anyone who has made a mistake, such as misspelling the recipient’s name, or saying something downright unsavory or condescending, wishes they could go back in time and save themselves the humiliation. Now, thanks to an upcoming initiative called Pluto Mail, the time machine might arrive a little early.

Tags:
Email Technology Internet
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Technology Pitfalls are Embedded in Human Nature

b2ap3_thumbnail_technology_and_the_human_condition_400.jpg
For a piece of technology to make it into your hands, the design is rigorously tested and QC checked. Therefore, what rolls off the assembly line should work just fine. Yet, users experience technology problems all the time. Did you know that one of the biggest reasons why technology fails is because it’s human nature to mess it up? Here are three reasons why humans aren’t compatible with technology.

Tags:
Technology Computers User Error
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Finding the Right Fit For Your Business’s Technology Vendor Needs

b2ap3_thumbnail_vendors_work_for_you_400.jpg
Having the right technology vendor can go a long way. How can you be sure that your business has partnered with the proper technology vendor? If you’re unfamiliar with the ways that a tech vendor operates, they might even try to rip you off and weasel more money out of you. One way you can know for sure you’ve made the right decision is by having your IT provider do the dirty work.

Tags:
Managed Service Provider Technology Vendor Management
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

When Managing IT Feels Like Herding Cats [VIDEO]

b2ap3_thumbnail_cat_herding_400.jpg
Cat Herding: The attempt to control or organize a class of entities which are uncontrollable or chaotic. Implies a task that is extremely difficult or impossible to do, primarily due to chaotic factors (Wikipedia). Does the humorous concept of cat herding sound like your current approach to IT management?

Tags:
Technology Administration IT Solutions
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

Tip of the Week: How to Use Technology in a Sanitary Fashion

b2ap3_thumbnail_sanitary_practices_400.jpg
These days, with the Ebola virus on everyone's mind, sanitation is a major issue. Enacting proper sanitation procedures is a must for any public place, especially in the office. Unbeknownst to most office workers, one of the biggest transmitters of germs is frequently-handled technology. Therefore, it's imperative that you properly use your technology in a sanitary fashion. Here's how.

Tags:
Tip of the Week Technology Best Practices
0 Comments
Continue reading
Mike

5 of the Best Android Smartphones on the Market Right Now

b2ap3_thumbnail_top_android_smartphones_400.jpg
Business is on the move. There is no argument from industry professionals that more business is done on the go today than ever before. A big part of this upward trend in mobile computing is the proliferation of smartphone technology to boost productivity. The capabilities of these devices have increased to the point where any worker can accomplish a cursory amount of work.

Tags:
Technology Best Available Smartphones
0 Comments
Continue reading